CONTROL SYSTEM How to design daylight into your building using electronically tintable glazing.
Visible light transmission from top: 60%, 8%, 6%, % THE SAGEGLASS CONTROL SYSTEM INTRODUCTION The control system tints The chart below summarizes the performance electronically to maximize daylight and outdoor views while effectively controlling heat gain and glare. specifications of our standard glazing. SAGE offers a wide range of glazings with different insulating glass The glass can be cleared or tinted as needed by the configurations, performance specifications, colors, building s occupants, by the controls system directly or in conjunction with a building management system. For more than two decades, SAGE has been pioneering the heart of the dynamic glazing system: the algorithms that control it. Effective management of solar heat and glare for energy savings and human comfort and health is more than just glass. A critical balance exists between daylighting designed for people s comfort and tinting performance to conserve or harvest solar energy. Striking this balance for each system we design, and fine-tuning how each is customized for the needs of the project, is our core competency. As the industry s leader, we understand this better than anyone. and shapes. Please visit sageglass.com for the most up-to-date product information. HOW IT WORKS Dynamic glass changes tint when it receives a command from the control system. The electronics of the system are housed in Control Panels within the building. These electronics have been pre-programmed with the algorithms that carry out the commands that best meet the requirements of the project, as determined by the building s designer. Our control system includes advanced tools to manage daylighting, color rendering, energy usage and glare based on occupancy and light levels. Control can be automated with the option of manual overrides, or fully SAGEGLASS 0 manual. SYSTEM COMPONENTS This schematic shows the overall layout of the control system. IGUs connect to the Control Panel via Pigtails, Frame Cables and 2-Conductor Cables. In some cases, the wiring joins in Terminal Boxes, and in others it runs directly from the IGUs to the Control Panel. SageBus Cable connects the Switch to the Control Panels. Light Sensors connect to either the Terminal Box or the Control Panel. The power sources are UL Listed, Class 2 high-reliability units, ensuring safety and permitting cost-effective Class 2 wiring methods. All cable is low voltage DC, plenum-rated cable. 3 Frame Cables Run through the frame and provide the connection between the IGUs and the 2-Conductor Cable via the Terminal Box; they can also connect the IGUs directly to the Control Panel. Terminal Box Provides a junction point for the 2-Conductor Cable to join the Frame Cables and Sensor Cables. Sensor Cable 5 2-Conductor Cable Runs from the Control Panel to the Terminal Box where it connects to the Frame Cable. 6 Control Panel Houses the electronics, including the SIM II and DC power supplies, required to operate the IGUs. AC power is converted to low-voltage DC here. 7 SageBus Cable Runs from the Switch to the Control Panel, or between Control Panels. 8 Switch Provides manual control of the IGUs. can be varied from % visible light transmission/9 solar heat gain when fully tinted to 60% visible light transmission/ solar heat gain when fully clear. can also be programmed with two intermediate states, such as 8% and 6% Tvis (these two states often provide the optimal shading effects when fully clear or tinted are not necessary). With this range of variability, presents several new design considerations for the architect and building owner. OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM The system is wired in sections, making it easier to install and permitting commissioning without the need to coordinate the schedules of glazing and lowvoltage electrical contractors. The segmented system also facilitates maintenance and IGU replacement, if necessary. In the unlikely event of component failure, only a portion of the system is affected and can easily be replaced. 2 Clear w/sr2.0 %Tvis %Rf Ext. %Rb Int. %Tsol SHGC U-factor %Tuv %Tdw-K Clear State 60 6 33 8 5 Intermediate state 2 8 0 9 7 0.5 8 5 Intermediate state 6 0 9 2 0.0 8 0. 2 Fully Tinted 9 9 8 0 Modeled with Window 6.3; argon-filled IGU IGU Pigtails Extend from one edge of the IGU and connect in the glazing pocket to the Frame Cable, providing the electrical connection to each individual IGU. IGUs Insulating glass units tint and clear on demand. Units can be sub-zoned to provide maximum control. 9 Exterior or Interior Light Sensor Used when automatic mode is desired: the system adjusts the IGUs in response to ambient light levels, as predetermined by the user. The SIM II controls the entire control system. It can be programmed to manage tinting based on such inputs as time of day, solar angle and daylight sensor values. 2 3
WHICH SYSTEM IS RIGHT FOR YOUR PROJECT? DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEM Our system is typically designed in either a centralized or distributed architecture or a hybrid of the two, depending on projects, this results in lower installation costs. As shown in the illustration below, the Control Panels the size and needs of the project. Both systems can be expanded, and both can be integrated with a building management With this configuration, multiple Control Panels are located throughout the building. For larger are sited as close as possible to the IGUs, for example, above suspended ceilings or in closets. They system (BMS). may be mounted in a plenum area or flush mounted in a wall. The Control Panels connect to the CENTRALIZED CONTROL SYSTEM Panels can be connected in a daisy chain fashing using SageBus IGUs (or to the Light Sensors) via the Frame Cable which attaches in the glazing pocket to the IGU Pigtail. The centralized controls system allows the Control Panels to be situated in one location, up to feet Cable, or they can be connected using an Ethernet cable. away from the IGUs, which simplifies placement of the controls. This configuration is typically used in projects where less than,200 square feet of is being installed and also in larger systems where Control Panels cannot physically be installed near the IGUs. The illustration below shows an example of how a centralized control system could be configured. In this example, one Control Panel is mounted in a central location inside of the building s utility closet where other building controls are housed. 2-conductor Cables run from the Control Panel to the Terminal Boxes, each of which is located in one of the three rooms where the IGUs are installed. Frame Cables exit the Terminal Boxes and connect in the glazing pocket to the IGU Pigtails. The Terminal Boxes can also connect directly to the Light Sensors which reside in each room Example layout of a Distributed Control System. or outside on the façade. If the total wire length is less than 25 feet, the Frame Cable can connect directly to the Control Panel, eliminating the terminal box. Switches for manual control are connected in daisy-chain fashion using SageBus Cable. SAGE offers three different sizes of Control Panels, each of which can control a different number of IGUs. Each large Control Panel, for example, can accommodate up to 2,000 sq. ft. of glazing. In buildings where is installed on multiple floors, each floor is connected via Ethernet. IN MULTI-FLOOR BUILDINGS Our systems are easily scalable by connecting control systems on each floor with a simple Ethernet cable. This simplifies wiring and reduces installation costs, while providing maximum flexibility. BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Any of the systems described above can integrate with a BMS via BACnet, LonWorks, or dry contacts. Complete BMS control is possible but most often a design with overrides, set-point changes and occupancy inputs is desired for maximum control. Example layout of a Centralized Control System. 5
ZONING Zoning can be set up in any configuration desired: by room, by building orientation, by row or column. The design is limited only by your needs and imagination. Zoning strategies are highly important in ensuring a feeling of natural light in the space. EARLY AFTERNOON: As the sun passes overhead, the windows change to compen- SUNRISE: The sun s low position on the sate. Glass on the east and south To achieve neutral color rendering within a space where the glass is very dark, as is the case when elevations tints based on zoning is fully tinted, some percentage of more neutral light must be allowed in. We achieve strategies. In this example, because this by zoning. Zoning allows specific panes to be tinted as required for glare and heat control, yet the sun is overhead, the control horizon means light shines directly on the system calls for intermediate states east elevation, creating glare. That facade in certain zones to achieve specific is set to tint, while the rest of the building ZONING FOR NEUTRAL TRANSMITTED LIGHT allows others to be left clear to provide more neutral lighting in the space. As the graphs below illustrate, it takes very little light coming through the clear glass to achieve this effect. light levels. is set for maximum daylight harvesting. through fully clear glass A DAY IN THE LIFE OF LATE AFTERNOON: When is fully clear, the distribution of light (the color of light through the glass) is more neutral, as indicated in the graph by the green line. Direct solar gain becomes an issue. Occupants near the west strategies that incorporate automatic and manual windows need to block heat gain, controls to manage sunlight the most effectively. while elsewhere in the building Zoning design depends on many factors including people want to clear the glass for maximum daylight. Both heat building orientation, occupant location and needs, and glare control is optimized by and interior space design. Our system is highly 2 zoning strategies. customizable and can be programmed to meet the When is fully tinted, the color of the light shifts to the lower end of the visible light spectrum, as indicated by the blue line. through fully tinted glass These illustrations provide examples of daylighting needs of almost any project. wanting to look out over a city skyline, for instance), SUNSET: Glare is the windows can be cleared. On the other hand, light created as light shines directly pollution can be reduced by fully tinting the glass. through the glass where occupants 3 NIGHTTIME: If maximum vision is desired (imagine When /3 of the panes are clear, the color of the blended incoming light is very similar to the color of light coming through all clear panes. Compare the pale green shaded area to the green line. (The darker green shaded area shows the absolute amount of light.) in the space (normalized) are sitting. The windows transition into fully tinted mode to block that straight-line glare. The top windows, however, enter clear mode to harvest as much daylight as possible. Absolute amount of daylight The color of light continues to remain relatively neutral when only /5 (shown here) or even /8 of the glass is clear. Modeling data provided by John Mardaljevic, Professor of Building Daylight Modelling, School of Civil & Building Engineering, Loughborough University, UK 6 7
is the pioneer of the world s smartest dynamic glass and is transforming the indoor experience for people by connecting the built and natural environments. Electronically tintable tints or clears on demand to control sunlight and prevent heat and glare without the need for blinds or shades. dramatically reduces energy demand and the need for HVAC by blocking up to 9 percent of solar heat. As part of Saint-Gobain, is backed by more than 350 years of building science expertise that only the world leader in sustainable environments can provide. 877.72.332 info@sageglass.com sageglass.com GET IN TOUCH SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. - 2 Sage Way Faribault, MN 5502 USA SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. All rights reserved. is a registered trademark of SAGE Electrochromics, Inc. MKT - 06.2 This document was printed on 0% post consumer recycled paper. 8